Dust collecting apparatus



Nov. 6, 1951 w KESTELL 2,573,768

DUST COLLECTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 28, 1950 Inventor David Wff'estell 195.1 D. w. KESTELL DUST COLLECTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 28, 1950 Inventor w K, W M Y w. DB

Nov. 6, 1951 D. W. KESTELL DUST COLLECTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 28, 1950 inventor Davzd Wflestell Ndv. 6, 1951 Filed April 28, 1950 Fly. 5

D- W. KESTELL DUST COLLECTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor Ddw'd Wffestell Patented Nov. 6, 1951 2,573,768 DUST COLLECTING APPARATUS David Webber Kestell, Leicester, England, as-

signor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application April 28, 1950, Serial No. 158,696 In Great Britain May 11, 1949 4 Claims.

This invention relates to dust collecting apparatus and is herein disclosed as embodied in a device suitable for use in cleaning dust from shoes.

During the manufacture of shoes having uppers of white leather, such as buckskin, it is necessary to take special precautions in order to minimize or prevent soiling of the leather; Some manufacturers protect the leather from soiling by coating it with French chalk, in either powdered or paste form, and either before or shortly after the uppers have been cut out from the skins. Additional quantities of powdered chalk maybe applied to the uppers as they pass through the factory during the course of manufacture of the shoes. Before the shoes are packedfor shipment, the uppers must be cleaned and, after the usual cleaning operation, it is customary to brush the uppers by hand to improve their appearance and also to insure the removal of any dust or any surplus cleaning material which may remain on the uppers. The dust which arises from this brushing should be disposed of to prevent its entering the atmosphere of the factory.

During the brushing operation, it is usually desirable to have on hand a small supply of chalk to which the operator has ready access in case he finds it necessary to apply the chalk locally to a shoe. This supply of chalk not only should be readily accessible to the operator but it should be provided in such a way as to avoid waste of the operators time in replenishing it.

A similar hand brushing operation is also desirable in the finishing of suede shoes having uppers of a color other than white. These shoes because of the fibrous nature-of the uppers are especially subject to the collecting of dust and it is desirable that the brushing operation be performed under conditions which will prevent the dust from entering the atmosphere of the factory. In this case, however, there is no necessity for a supply of chalk or dust to be available to the operator.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a dust collecting apparatus suitable for use in the brushing of dust from shoes, such apparatus having means for recovering and rendering readily available for use a Portion of the dust removed from the shoes. An apparatus for this purpose which is illustrated herein comprises a casing which forms a cabinet-like structure and has a re-entrant space formed in its upper por:

tion within which a shoe may be held while being brushed by hand. The upper. portion ofv the casing thus constitutes a hood and means are provided for causing a draft of air to enter the hood and to discharge from the lower portion of the hood. The dust entrained in the air current can be filtered by means provided within the easing or it can be conducted to a locality outside the factory and there discharged into the atmosphere.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, a tray is provided within the above-mentioned dust hood for receiving and rendering readily recoverable such dust as settles upon the tray from the dust-laden air passing through the hood. Preferably the hood is provided with a support upon which the tray is movable between two positions, in one of which positions a considerable portion of the dust-laden air passes over the tray and deposits dust thereupon, and in the other position substantially none of the dust-laden air passes over the tray.

These and other features of the invention comprising various combinations and arrangements of parts will best be understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an angular view of one form of an improved dust collecting apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation in section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation in section of a modified form of apparatus showing the various parts so arranged as to recover dust entrained in the air passin through the hood;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the various parts so arranged as to bypass the air passing through the hood when the recovery of dust is not desired; and

Fig. 5 is an angular view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3.

The apparatus illustrated herein comprises a casing which forms a hollow cabinet-like structure having a re-entrant space formed in its upper portion to provide an open-front hood within which a shoe may be held by the operator while he brushes it. This casing comprises a left-hand outer side wall I (Fig. l), a righthand outer side wall 3 (Fig. 2), both walls being turned toward each other at their forward ends to form front walls 5 and l respectively, and a extends widthwise of the machine between the rear edges of the two inner side walls above mentioned. The walls I3 extend rearwardly for a distance sufllcient to allow access of the legs of the seated operator and extend upwardly generally to about bench height, these walls being somewhat higher at their forward edges than at their rear edges, and having upper edges which extend downwardly and rearwardly. As shown in Fig. 2, the downward inclination of the upper edges is steeper along the rearward portions (indicated by the reference numeral I4) of the edges than along the forward portions (indicated by the reference numeral I6).

A closure member I! joins the upper edges of the walls I3 and constitutes the upper wall of the lower re-entrant space. The forward portion of the closure member I! extends downwardly and rearwardly at an inclination corresponding to that of the forward portions I6 of the upper edges of the walls I3, and the rearward portion extends downwardly and rearwardly at an inclination corresponding to that of the rearward portions I4 of the upper edges of the walls I3. The wall I5 has an opening which is normally closed by a removable panel I9, the purpose of which will be later explained. The rear wall 9 at its upper end portion curves forwardly to form in conjunction with the side walls I and 3 a hood-like structure.

The front of this hood-like structure has a large opening through which a shoe may be inserted and held by the operator while he brushes it. Adjacent to the upper portion of the rear wall 9 and parallel thereto is a stationary bafile 2I, the upper edge of which is somewhat above the top of the opening 26 and the lower edge of which is on substantially the same level as the forward edge of the closure member II, thus providing a clear passage 23 through which a strong current of air may be set up which will pick up light dust tending to rise above the entrance opening of the hood.

The opening between the lower hollow interior portion of the casing and the upper re-entrant space (which is defined by the side walls I and 3, the bafiie 2|, and the closure member I?) is reduced widthwise by the provision of a pair of right and left angle pieces 25 (only the righthand one being shown) secured to the outer side walls I and 3 and having horizontal flanges equal in width to the distances between the outer side walls and their respective adjacent inner side walls I3. These horizontal flanges lie in a horizontal plane which contains the forward edge of the closure member I! and the lower edge of the baflle 2I. Each of the angle pieces 25 has a turned down flange (not shown) by which it is secured to the adjacent side wall, and it has also a turned down flange 26 which is spaced from the adjacent side wall by the width of the horizontal flange. These vertical flanges 26 extend down from their horizontal flanges for a distance of about 4 inches except that those portions of the flanges which are forward of the wall I5 terminate at their junction with the closure member I'I.

Four angular brackets 2'! are secured respectively to the rear wall 9, the front wall I5, and the vertical flanges 26 of the rightand lefthand angle pieces 25, these brackets together forming a horizontal rectangular frame. The brackets 21 have depending vertical flanges 29 which define the opening between the upper reentrant space and the lower hollow interior portion of the casing. This opening is partially closed by an upper face 30 of a box-like structure, this upper face 30 having eight circular openings 3I formed in it. Attached to the upper face 30 and depending below each of the circular openings 3| is a filter bag 33. The box-like structure, above referred to, has four side walls 35 each of which is perforated with a plurality of holes 31 having diameters somewhat less than one-half an inch. The box-like structure has a base 39 which is not perforated. Extending widthwise across the top 30 of the box-like structure is a handle M for facilitating removal and replacement. The box-like structure is normally held in position within the casing by latch members 43 engaging with catch members formed on the rightand left-hand brackets 21.

An exhaust blower 45 is secured to a base closure wall 41 of the casing and is so arranged as to draw air down through the hood and through the filters and to exhaust it into a chamber 5I from which it passes through a series of battles into the atmosphere.

Secured to each of the vertical flanges 26 of the angle pieces 25 is a horizontal bracket 53 in the form of an angle iron, these brackets being positioned above the brackets 21. The brackets 53 serve as supports upon which a dust collecting tray 55 can be moved forwardly or rearwardly to either of two positions. This dust collecting tray extends widthwise of the cabinet the full distance (allowing for reasonable clearance) between the vertical flanges 26 of the angle pieces 25. It is positioned some little distance above the level of the junction of the front wall I5 with the sloping closure wall I! and its dimension forwardly and rearwardly of the apparatus is less than the distance between the walls I! and 9 at the level of the tray, so that the tray does not obstruct the flow of air from the hood to the filtering device already described. The tray 55 has a rear wall 51 which extends up beyond the side walls of the tray and which terminates above the level of the lower edge of the baflle 2I to engage the baflle 2I as a stop. The tray 55 has a front wall 59 which inclines upwardly and forwardly and has a slope corresponding to that of the more steeply inclined rearward portion I4 of the closure wall H.

In the operation of the apparatus, assuming the tray occupies the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings and the motor of the blower 45 is running, a current of air will be drawn into the upper hood-like portion of the casing and exhausted through the baffles out of the chamber 5 I. This air current will divide into three parts, one of which rises to the top of the hood and then descends through the space between the rear wall 9 and the baffle 2|, another of which passes down through the opening between the rear wall 51 of the tray and the lower portion of the baflle 2|, and the third part of which passes through the gap between the front wall 59 of the tray and the closure member I'I. These three portions of the air current all pass down through the filter bags 33 and through the openings in the walls 35 and thence through the blower 45 into the atmosphere.

However, if the tray be moved rearwardly along the brackets 53 until its rear wall 5'! engages the bafile 2|, the air current flowing through the apparatus will be divided into only two parts, one of which flows through the space between the rear wall 9 and the bafile 2I and the other of which flows between the front wall 59 of the tray antenna and the closure member ll. Under these conditions substantially no dust willhe deposited upon the tray. On the other hand,if the tray. is moved forwardly along the brackets 53 until its front wall 59 engages the more steeply inclined portion of the closure member H, the air current will again be divided into two portions, one of which passes between the rear wall 9 and the baflle 2| and the other of which passes between the lower edge of the baflie 2| and the rearwall 51 of'the tray. Under these conditions dust will settle upon the tray from the air currentlwhich passesover it. The operator, therefore, when he is using the apparatus for the cleaning of shoes having white uppers coated with French chalk, will locate the tray in its forward position in order to accumulate a deposit of chalk in the tray and, when he operates upon suede shoes of various colors which have accumulated undesirable dust, he will move the tray to its rearward position to avoid having dust settle upon it.

A modified form of apparatus is shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. In this modified construction a baffle Bl, corresponding to the baffle 2|, is formed in two parts, 63 and 65, the part 63 being above the part 65 and being freely pivoted at its upper and forward edge on a pin 61 extending across the upper portion of the apparatus and secured at its ends to the walls I and 3. The lower portion 65 of the baffle 6! is pivotally secured to the lower edge of the upper portion 63 by a hinge 69 extending widthwise of the apparatus. This hinge permits the baffle to be moved into the broken position shown in Fig. 4 and into but not beyond the straight position shown in Fig. 3. The lower end portions of the baffle are notched, as indicated by the numeral H on Fig. 5, to fit over the angle pieces 25.

A rear stop or rest 13 and a forward stop or rest 15 are provided on the horizontal flange of each of the angle pieces 25 for engagement with the notched portions ll of the lower bafiie por tion 65. Between the vertical flanges of the angle irons 25 the unnotched portion of the bafiie member 65 extends down below the level of the horizontal flange of the angle iron 25 and terminates in an offset portion or lip 11 which, as shown in Fig. 4, is adapted to rest on the forward edge of the tray 55 when the baffle is in its forward position. A handle 19 is provided to facilitate adjustment of the baflle 6 I.

This form of apparatus may be provided with the filter bag 33, already described, or it may be connected, as shown, to the usual exhaust system with which many factories are provided. In such case the space below the tray 55 is closed by a dust-receiving pan 3! in the form of a funnel which directs the dust downwardly into an exhaust pipe 83. This arrangement may also be used if desired in that form of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 and already described.

A fluorescent lighting tube 85 is provided in the upper portion of the casing in both forms of the apparatus as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5.

In using the apparatus shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the operator, if he desires to collect dust in the tray 55, will draw the tray forward into the position shown in Fig. 3 and he will position the baflie 6| against the rear stops 13, as shown in that figure, to enable the air current to pass over the tray on its way to the exhaust system. If, however, he does'not wish to collect dust in the tray, he will grasp the handle 19 and raise the entire baflie 6| into the position shown in dotdash lines in Fig. 4 and at the time will push the tray. rearwardly into the. position shown in thatfi'gure. He will continue to draw the baflle member fis forward, raising the lip 11 over the forward edge of the tray and letting it rest there. The forwardtstops 15 will prevent forward sliding of the bailie member 65. When the tray and the baffle are in this position the air-current will not pass: over the tray and no dust will be deposited thereon.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and.v desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is a 1'; 'In. a dust collecting apparatus, a suction dust hood having a front opening communicating with a downwardly directed throat, a tray partially blocking the throat for receiving and rendering readily recoverable such dust as settles upon it from a current of dust laden air passing down through the throat, and a support upon which the tray is movable forwardl and rearwardly across the throat, the dimension of the tray in the direction of its movement being less than the corresponding dimension of the throat to leave an unblocked path rearwardly of the tray when the tray is in a forward position on its support and forwardly of the tray when the tray is in a rearward position, said tray serving when in its forward position to cause the current of dust laden air to pass over it and deposit dust upon it and when in its rearward position to cause the current of dust laden air to by-pass it.

2. In a dust collecting apparatus, a suction dust hood having a passageway through which dust-laden air can be withdrawn, a tray extending partially across said passageway for receiving and rendering readily recoverable such dust as settles upon it from the dust-laden air passing through the passageway, a support upon which the tray is movable between two positions, in one of which positions a considerable portion of the dust-laden air passes over the tray and deposits dust thereupon, and in the other position the dust-laden air by-passes the tray, and a bailie forming a second passageway connecting the upper portion of the dust hood with the first-mentioned passageway at a locality rearward of the tray to dispose of light dust which rises from the work, said baflle being movable to shield the tray from dust when the tray is in a position to be by-passed and to permit access of dust to the tray when the tray is in dust-receiving position.

3. In a dust collecting apparatus, a suction dust hood having an entrance chamber in which dust can be brushed from shoes and having also a throat leading down from said entrance chamber for conducting dust-laden air therefrom, said entrance chamber communicating with said throat through a substantially rectangular opening, a rectangular tray extending substantially across the full width of said opening, the 'forward and rearward dimension of said tray being.

less than the corresponding dimension of the opening to leave a space in the opening through which dust-laden air can enter the throat, and a support on which the tray is movable forwardly and rearwardl to vary the position of the space just mentioned, said space being to the rear of the tray when the tray is in its forward position, whereupon dust-laden air in passing over the tray to reach said space will deposit dust upon the tray, and said space being forward of the tray when the tray is in its rearward position, whereupon dust-laden air will enter the throat directly through said space without passing over said tray.

.'" 4'. In a. dust-collecting apparatus; .a suction REFERENCES CITED dust 9 havmg apassage through 1 dust The following references are of record in the laden air can be withdrawn, a tray within said me of this patent:

dust hood for receiving and rendering readily recoverable such dust as settles upon it from the UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS dust-laden air passing through said passage, and 5 Number Name Date a baffle in said hood movable between two posi- 1,267,091 Leiman et a1. May 21, 1918 tions, in one of which positions the baflie allows 1,388,347 Klicka Aug. 23, 1921 the air current to pass over the tray and to de- 1,838,117 Simms et a1 Dec. 29, 1931 posit dust thereupon, and in the other of which 10 2,376,546 Lundberg May 22, 1945 positions the baffie causes the air current to by- 2,384,414 Antrim Sept. 4, 1945 pass the tray without passing thereover. 2,475,815 Burd July 12, 1949 DAVID WEBBER KESTELL. 

